Grants: Water Resources
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Fisk Dam Removal Design and Permitting
Dec 2025Under leadership from Huron Pines, Fisk Dam is an obsolete concrete dam located on Rifle Creek, a tributary to the Rifle River located just east of the City of West Branch (44.2776, -84.2078). Fisk Dam completely blocks upstream fish passage; severely disrupts hydrology, channel geometry, and sediment transport; poses a risk of dam failure and related consequences as long as it exists; and creates erosion , safety, and aesthetic problems. The proposed project will result in development of final engineering designs and an approved permit to remove Fisk Dam and complete associated stream restoration work. Funding from Saginaw Bay WIN would fulfill match requirements for state and/or federal grants and completing the design phase will leverage future support for the construction phase to remove Fisk Dam and restore the stream. The full removal of Fisk Dam, with associated stream restoration including management of sediment mobilization in a controlled manner that minimizes impacts to fish and aquatic habitat, will address all of these impairments. Well-connected river systems allow fish and other aquatic life to move, migrate, and disperse throughout the watershed.
Cedar Street Kayak Launch
Dec 2025Implemented by the Village of Sanford, This project is innovative as it will provide the only river access for kayaks on the Tittabawassee River between Midland and Sanford. This kayak launch ties into Porte Park which is a community gathering space. A kayak launch will not only provide access to the river for residents of Sanford, but Midland County. This project is connected to several projects along the Tittabawassee River including the repair of the dams, the return of fishing, the return of the lake and the overall recovery from the dam failure and subsequent flood. In addition, this project ties into several other previously Saginaw Bay WIN projects including: the Averill Universal Access path, the restoration of the L and B Drain, and the Upper Emerson Park Project.
Zilwaukee Township Riverfront Project
Jun 2025Zilwaukee Township is developing an approximately 2-acre plot of township-owned riverfront land on the Saginaw River along Melbourne Road. Development would include a picnic area, fishing access, canoe/kayak launch, and improved parking and access for winter ice fishing and bank fishing. These improvements would provide safe and accessible waterway access for residents and visitors alike. Fishing and water activities attract visitors year-round; the current lack of designated parking and access points creates safety concerns and environmental degradation. Vehicles frequently park in makeshift spots, causing boggy ruts and hazardous conditions. An ADA-compliant kayak launch is proposed at this location and will provide a safer, more sustainable solution while complementing the nearby Bay-Zil Trail(a prior WIN investment) as a natural stop for bikers and trail users. A Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant proposal is submitted and pending
Chesaning Kayak Launch Partnership
Jun 2025The Village of Chesaning, along with Chesaning Township, share a parks and recreation commission and are jointly developing river access sites along the Shiawassee River. The Village of Chesaning will be installing an ADA compliant kayak launch to act as a get off point on the Shiawassee River. There are currently only natural, unimproved, get off points and some of those are difficult for people with special physical needs to traverse. This project will make the river accessible for more people. Project sponsors will also be upgrading the park to offer more amenities for people using the river including reopening bathrooms and nearby parking. This will bring people to the downtown area of Chesaning, providing the opportunity for more people to come enjoy Chesaning. Chesaning Township will also be adding an ADA compliant kayak launch to act as both a get off point and access point to the Shiawassee River. Chesaning Township has long been a hub for kayaking along the river at its Parshalburg Park location. This will offer more people access to the river system (which is a National Water Trail) and allow a river cruise from Parshalburg Park to downtown Chesaning.
Sanback Dam Removal & Stream Restoration Construction Phase
Jun 2025Led by Huron Pines, this dam removal follows the engineering phase of the project. This investment supports the construction phase to fully remove Sanback Dam, located on Beechwood Creek in Rose City, MI (Ogemaw County; Rifle River Watershed). The existing structure is a high hazard dam in severely deteriorating condition that presents immediate safety hazards to individuals walking on or near the structure (e.g., risks of falls, cuts, or potentially even drowning) as it is located in a public city park. If the dam were to fail, it could endanger people downstream, would likely damage property and transportation infrastructure downstream, and would severely degrade important coldwater stream habitat downstream (large amounts of fine sediment from the impoundment would wash downstream and inundate important gravel habitat crucial for fish reproduction and aquatic invertebrate habitat, and the high turbidity could cause direct mortality to trout and other aquatic species in Houghton Creek, one of the few cold-water trout streams in the Saginaw Bay watershed).
Fisheries Conservation and Research Project
Dec 2024The Saginaw Bay WIN program has heavily invested in the long-term health and promotion of the Saginaw Bay system-wide fishery for more than 20 years. Starting with the WIN Fisheries Scoping Study in 2001 and continuing on with other research projects including the Saginaw Bay Watershed Dam Analysis and the 2008 Evaluation of Lake Sturgeon Spawning in the Saginaw River Watershed, WIN realized that the health of our fisheries is critical to the economic and ecosystem health of Saginaw Bay Watershed communities. Subsequent to those analyses, WIN led efforts to begin sturgeon restoration, the removal of nearly two dozen dams to facilitate fish passage and recreation, and various other projects including reef restoration, education and further research. This proposal includes continued to support of that work, focusing on (1) bass research and (2) continued public education in the lake sturgeon restoration effort. Project Champion: Saginaw Bay WIN
Hogan Road Launch
Jun 2024Proposed by Keepers of the Shiawassee this project involves the development of an improved kayak/canoe launch on the Shiawassee River at Linden, MI. To date, the site that had been being used is an unimproved piece of property under the ownership of the Genesee County Drain Commission. As proposed, Fenton Township will enter into a long-term lease with Genesee County so that they can maintain the site. Funds for construction have been being raised for several years, and WIN funds – uncharacteristically – would be among the “last funds in”. The final construction will include both the launch itself, as well as a parking area (cars are currently parking on the road shoulder). Project Champion: Keepers of the Shiawassee
Shiawassee River Dam/Causeway Removal
Jun 2024Recent WIN-supported dam removals at Shiatown and Corunna have inspired communities and NGOs along the Shiawassee River to continue to embrace their locations along the Shiawassee River National Water Trail. This project, which includes the removal of an abandoned causeway that no longer serves a purpose and associated restoration activities, will allow for additional access along the river, as well as provide for improved fish passage. The removal of this structure will finally connect an 84 mile section of the Shiawassee. Project Champion: Friends of the Shiawassee
Parcel Level Land Prioritization for Water Quality in the Shiawassee River Watershed
Jun 2024Proposed by the Six Rivers Land Conservancy as a result of discussion led by the Cook Family Foundation, SRLC is proposing using a new tool that they are piloting that was developed under a grant from the Land Trust Alliance that is helping them prioritize parcels for protection/conservation as it relates to water quality. The tool allows parcels and ownership to be prioritized so that land conservancies can proactively work with land owners to discuss conservation and restoration options up to, and including, acquisition and easements. Project Champion: Six Rivers Land Conservancy
Camp Shiawassee Canoe Launch Project
Dec 2023Proposed by the Shiawassee Family YMCA, this project includes the additional of two access sites ath the YMCA camp’s 180-acre property that includes 13,500 feet of frontage on the Shiawassee River. Of note, 140 acres of the property was recently encumbered by a conservation management plan and permanent conservation easement, largely funded by the Cook Family Foundation. These launches mirror other access sites that have been completed along the Shiawassee, most of which have been funded – at least in part - by WIN. These sites are also along the Shiawassee River National Water Trail, planning and implementation also funded by WIN.
Shiawassee Access and Riverfront Development
Jul 2023The Village of Byron, in partnership with Byron Area Schools, proposes to develop a publicly accessible riverfront viewing platform as one component of their Economic & Public Space initiative along the Shiawassee River. In recent months, the Village of Byron has retained the services of Lionbear Ventures (LBV), Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership (SEDP) and C2AE to enhance the accessibility, safety, and overall recreational experience within the village. The plan under development will catalyze the redevelopment of their commercial corridor by attracting new commerce, residents and visitors. In 2012, Byron experienced a fire that destroyed 7 sites in the downtown area. This area is now known as the Brownfield site. Since 2012, the village and school system have been experiencing a decline in population and plan to address this challenge through a partnership focused on leveraging the county's premier resource: access to the Shiawassee River National Water Trail.
Sanback Dam Removal & Stream Restoration Design Phase
Jul 2023Proposed by Huron Pines, this request is for the design and permitting phase to fully remove Sanback Dam, located on Beach Creek in Rose City, MI (Ogemaw County; Rifle River Watershed). The existing structure is a high hazard dam in severely deteriorating condition that presents immediate safety hazards to individuals walking on or near the structure (e.g., risks of falls, cuts, or potentially even drowning) as it is located on City property. If the dam were to fail, it could endanger people downstream, would likely damage property and transportation infrastructure downstream, and would severely degrade important coldwater stream habitat downstream (large amounts of fine sediment from the impoundment would wash downstream and inundate important gravel habitat crucial for fish reproduction and aquatic invertebrate habitat, and the high turbidity could cause direct mortality to trout and other aquatic species in Houghton Creek.
SAGINAW BAY WIN ~ c/o The Conservation Fund ~ P.O. Box 734 ~ Bay City, MI 48708
phone: 989-892-9171 fax: 989-892-9172 email: info@saginawbaywin.org
